06 June 2023 , 10:31
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Whether you love it or hate it, JD Wetherspoon has a very special place in the nation's heart.
From its infamous patterned carpets to the cheap grub and beer, there's a whole lot to like about your local 'Spoons.
One beer lover is so dedicated to his favourite boozer that he's made it his mission to visit every single pub in the British Isles.
After four years of the 'longest pub crawl in history', David Bingham, 60, is finally finishing his impressive stint in London tomorrow.
The Wetherspoon fanatic has bought an airline ticket just to be allowed inside The Flying Horse at Gatwick Airport.
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The 60-year-old superfan has visited 875 'Spoons in the last four years (SWNS)
His partner Una gifted him a £3 Wetherspoon directory from eBay (SWNS)As if that isn't dedication enough, he's flying to a destination that doesn't have a single 'Spoons in sight.
David said: "The cheapest air ticket I could get was to Shannon in Ireland which doesn't have any Wetherspoon pubs but that doesn't matter because I'll have completed the challenge before I get there."
The retired forklift driver estimates his final tab for his epic crawl is close to £30,000, including travel fares, drinks and overnight stays.
David often travels thousands of miles every month just to sip a pint at one of 875 Wetherspoons pubs.
"It's been a wonderful journey across Britain and I've visited so many places which I would never have gone to if I'd not been checking off the pubs," he said.
He's bought an airplane ticket just to get past security at Gatwick Airport tomorrow (David Bingham / SWNS)"I call myself a pub-spotter because I like to go down my directory of 'Spoons pubs and cross them off one by one.
"I daresay it'll be strange to finally finish the challenge but I'm keen to revisit some of the ones I went to in the early days."
David, from West Hallam, Derbyshire, will celebrate the end of his pub challenge on Wednesday 7 June with his partner Una Cooper, 63.
It was Una who inspired David to kickstart the momentous pub crawl, when she bought him a £3 Wetherspoon directory off eBay.
The couple took it to their local branch, The Observatory, in nearby Ilkeston, and David decided to visit every single one on the list.
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He estimates to have spent close to £30,000 on the immense pub crawl (David Bingham / SWNS)His challenge has taken him to nearly 900 'Spoons, including more than 40 which have since closed.
David is often accompanied by tee-total Una, with the couple taking public transport to tick off the pubs.
As well as trains and buses, the pair took a hovercraft to reach the Man in the Moon pub on the Isle of Wight.
Last month, they knocked off nine more during a 10-day cruise up the West coast of Ireland.
David, who has one daughter, a stepson and one grandson, said: "I love going in Wetherspoon pubs because they are all different buildings.
"Many of them are old fire stations, post offices, churches and other beautiful sites. I call them boxes of fun because you never know where they'll be."
David doesn't plan on stopping after he's reached his final pub (SWNS)During a four-day trip to Scotland, David knocked off 46 boozers before enjoying a pint of San Miguel and a bottle of Heineken.
His favourite Spoons are the Royal Victoria Pavilion in Ramsgate, Kent; The Corn Exchange in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk; the Winter Gardens in Harrogate; and the Caley Picture House in Edinburgh.
David now says Una will plan their weekend breaks, but he hasn't ruled out another 'Spoons challenge in the future.
He said: "There are 57 Wetherspoon hotels across the country and Ireland and I've only stayed in one so I'm already thinking that's just 56 to go."
Are you a Wetherspoons superfan? Get in touch. Email [email protected].